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Panasonic FH7 vs Sony W550

Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
28
Overall
33

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony W550 Key Specs

Panasonic FH7
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 126g - 95 x 56 x 19mm
  • Revealed September 2011
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-FS22
Sony W550
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-104mm (F2.7-5.7) lens
  • 110g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Announced July 2011
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Panasonic FH7 vs Sony W550 Overview

Lets look a bit more in depth at the Panasonic FH7 versus Sony W550, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Ultracompact by competitors Panasonic and Sony. The sensor resolution of the FH7 (16MP) and the W550 (14MP) is pretty comparable and they use the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The FH7 was introduced 2 months later than the W550 and they are both of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Panasonic FH7 being a Compact camera and the Sony W550 being a Ultracompact camera.

Before diving through a more detailed comparison, below is a short synopsis of how the FH7 scores vs the W550 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Panasonic FH7 over the Sony W550

 FH7 W550 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony W550 over the Panasonic FH7

 W550 FH7 

Common features in the Panasonic FH7 and Sony W550

 FH7 W550 
AnnouncedSeptember 2011July 2011Same generation
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony W550 Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Panasonic FH7 features outer dimensions of 95mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") and a weight of 126 grams (0.28 lbs) whilst the Sony W550 has dimensions of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 110 grams (0.24 lbs).

Check out the Panasonic FH7 versus Sony W550 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the FH7 against the W550.

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony W550 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the FH7 and W550 is 96 and 96 respectively.

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony W550 top view buttons comparison

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony W550 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to imagine the gap in sensor measurements just by checking out a spec sheet. The visual below will provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the FH7 and W550.

As you can see, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You should expect the Panasonic FH7 to provide more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively.

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony W550 sensor size comparison

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony W550 Screen and ViewFinder

Panasonic FH7 vs Sony W550 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Panasonic FH7 Portrait photography information
Sony W550 Portrait photography information
34
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
28
good resolution (14MP)
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Panasonic FH7 Street photography factors
Sony W550 Street photography factors
67
image stabilization (Optical)
has focus by touch
lighter than competition (126 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
57
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Panasonic FH7 as a Sports photography camera
Sony W550 as a Sports photography camera
40
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
includes tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
35
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14MP)
slow frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Panasonic FH7 Travel photography highlights
Sony W550 Travel photography highlights
71
lighter than competition (126 grams)
has focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
65
good resolution (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (26mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.7)
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Landscape Comparison

Panasonic FH7 Landscape photography advice
Sony W550 Landscape photography advice
43
pretty wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse mode
42
fairly wide (26mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Panasonic FH7 Vlogging info
Sony W550 Vlogging info
34
pretty wide (28mm)
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focusing
lighter than competition (126g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone jack
29
fairly wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
slow max aperture (f2.7)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic port
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Panasonic FH7 vs Sony W550 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Panasonic FH7 and Sony W550
 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
General Information
Brand Panasonic Sony
Model type Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH7 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W550
Also referred to as Lumix DMC-FS22 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Ultracompact
Revealed 2011-09-07 2011-07-24
Body design Compact Ultracompact
Sensor Information
Chip Venus Engine IV BIONZ
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 11 9
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 26-104mm (4.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-6.5 f/2.7-5.7
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Display resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - Clear Photo LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 60s 2s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 4.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.30 m 3.80 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 126 grams (0.28 pounds) 110 grams (0.24 pounds)
Dimensions 95 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 260 shots -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery ID - NP-BN1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 -
Retail price $149 $119